Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
June 1, 2015

Ever since Adam was a lad, we were taught Newton’s law of universal gravitation that essentially says the gravitational force between two objects is proportional to the mass of each, and inversely proportional to the distance between them.

Therefore F = Gm1m2/r2.

Another, common gravity formula learned in school was g = GM/r2, where M, the mass of the Earth, and its radius r are used to determine the acceleration, due to the gravity of the Earth.

Then along comes that bloody demon Charlie to mess about with our minds, just when we thought that Ronald Jones was merely running off his mouth about the existence of demons in our schools, and that the only “devil” we had to fear was Government’s June 15 Budget.

We are yet to figure out if he is Mexican, African or Trini; but, shoosh, from all reports this Charlie guy is so demonic, that these days even our goodly Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler looks like a fine, darling angel, never mind he is yet to make good on his promises to pay outstanding NIS returns and to fix that sordid CLICO mess –– and even though we don’t yet know exactly what he is coming with in that mean and lean “black box” he inherited from the late David Thompson.

But to get back to Charlie. It makes absolutely no sense getting involved in any surface level argument with anyone about what is expected to happen when you put two pencils on top of each other and wait for a reaction. The real issue here is that, as unbelievable as it may sound, this evil Charlie may have started out as a game for some, but it has now developed to such a stage that just the mention of his name twice creates a challenge.

In fact, it is no stretch of our imagination to say that it drives genuine fear into the hearts of our children, teachers, parents, principals –– even pastors and priests.

Those of us who have not experienced Charlie ourselves need to trust in the reports of those who say they have, and understand that the range of unusual happenings that make up these violent episodes could be anything from slamming doors to flying tables. Of course, out of their own ignorance some people may embellish things a bit.

Furthermore, as incredible as this whole Charlie Charlie Challenge may sound, we have to trust in the fact some of this island’s most trustworthy educators, who are known to be of sound mind and are veterans at decifering real and present danger versus child’s play, have decided to summon priests and prayer warriors based on what they either saw themselves or had reported to them by their young charges.

It is therefore left to be seen how Mr Jones’ ministry will ultimately deal with the reported sightings of Charlie; whether we will go the route of, say, Jamaica or Antigua, which have banned the playing of the “demonic” game in their schools, or whether, by our silence, we allow Charlie to have free rein over our education system.

It is true that evil can come in various forms, shapes and sizes, but even Pentecostal Bishop Gerry Seale wants nothing to do with Charlie, neither does colleague former Anglican Bishop Rufus Brome.

In fact, so seriously does the Pentecostal leader view the situation, that as soon as news broke last week that Charlie had taken hold of at least three local schools, he immediately called for a day of fasting and prayer on behalf of the young people of Barbados, while warning his grandchildren to keep far, far away from evil Charlie.

“This needs urgent, sustained prayer,” he warned then.

Retired Bishop Dr Rufus Brome was equally chaste.

So for those of you, like the annoying one on Q100.7 FM on Friday mornings, who would rather believe there is no such thing as the devil, don’t take our word for it, take the advice of one who is not only versed, but has had first-hand experience in exorcising demons.

For, as the good Anglican leader points out, even within the Scriptures we read about Jesus casting out demons, and it is not just that you are dealing
with evil individuals, but evil systems and evil powers that are trying to work against God.

And in answer to those who would just have us be done with this Charlie talk altogether, Bishop Brome also warns: “Evil is not just the absence of good.

“Therefore, if you cast out evil, you have to put something good in its place.”

We feel compelled to agree with our religious leaders on this one, for fear that youth activist Roger Husbands is right when he says a bigger Charlie is coming.

It would foolhardy of us to be jumping up at this stage trying to prove there is no evil around, when our energies would be put to better use in developing a strong national armour to confront it when and wherever it emerges.